Shipping box



J. F. GROSS SHIPPING BOX Oct. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 1'7. 1950 N (www w n y $1 ooo oo@ Sv R M @Ooo @ooo n@ e mf. w OO LQ @O mH N oo o@ p 0 G Q QN 00 OO. 5 @o o@ m QN@ 0 Y@ mm W O NN u O N. VQ O G YWN O O @o oo mw uw Neo o@ N O0 n O G O O l I l II G l I l: MN I im -l mv o G o G A o o Ilnl fR: OOWIGMG@ NNN o o WN ,O G G G G TNW u. u lY QN G S QN ww \muw e. o v oooo@ @0G06 @w TTITHLT NNY e um o NWY n 9N Sv *mA Q Mu G G %h|\ o o G G G O mv G \m WL Imm.. Il wm. n N um l@ Www@ Oct. 25, 1955 J. F. GRoss 2,721,687

SHIPPING Box Filed Aug. 17, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .IN V EN TOR. JOSEP/f 639 0 ss ,4 7' TOR/VE Y Oct. 25, 1955 J. F. GRoss 2,721,687

SHIPPING BOX 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1'?, 1950 Amma A TTOK/VE'X oct. 25, 1955 J. F. GROSS 2,721,687

SHIPPING BOX Filed Aug. 17 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 35 35' dou-PHE @Ross ATTORNX United States Patent O SHIPPING BOX Joseph F. Gross, Morristown, N. J., assignor to Union Bag & Paper Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 17, 1950, Serial No. 179,956

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-6) The present invention relates to improvements in shipping boxes. More particularly it pertains to a new and improved box for shipping live chicks, which may be made of corrugated board or other iibrous folding board.

An object of this invention is to provide a box which can be shipped and stored in unassembled form in a at condition, and is so cut and scored that it may be readily set up into a chick box without the use of special tools or skilled help.

Another-.object of this invention is to provide a box in which the partitions are secured to the box sides merely by a friction t, but nevertheless held sufliciently so that the box loaded with chicks can be picked up and carried by the partition without risk that the box proper will become detached.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box having simple locking means so that the cover can be easily secured to the box and locked in place.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box having portions protruding from the sides and top of the box so that boxes may be stacked next to and upon one another without aifecting proper ventilation for the chicks from all sides and the top of the box.

Another object is to provide a shipping box of the character stated which is simple in design, rugged in construction, economical to manufacture, and more satisfactory and etiicient than the chick boxes now in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplilied in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller undertanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the main body of the box is formed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the interior partitions;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the other of the interior partitions;

Figure 3A is a similar view of the opposite side of the partition of Figure 3;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the cover of the box is formed;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the box without the cover in position;

Figure 6 is a similar top plan view of the box with the cover in position and the tabs locked;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken substantially along lines 7-7 of Figure 4 and Figure 5, with the cover ready to be placed on the box;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken substantially along lines 8 8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale show- 'ice ing one of the locking tabs on the partition and a portion of the cover;

Figure 10 is a similar sectional view showing the tab locked into position in the cover;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a portion of the blank from which the main body of a modified box is formed;

Figure l2 is a plan view of a portion of the blank from which the cover for the modified box of Figure l1 is formed;

Figure 13 is a plan view of a portion of the blank from which the main body of another modified box is formed;

Figure 14 is a plan view of a portion of the blank from which the cover for the modified box of Figure 13 is formed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown in Figure l a blank 10 from which the main body ot the box is formed. This blank is scored and cut out along certain lines to facilitate folding and assembling the box. As in the case of the entire box, it may be formed of corrugated board or other brous folding board adapted for use in boxes or cartons. It embodies a bottom 11, end walls 12 and side walls 13, all hingedly connected to the bottom by the score lines 14 and 15. The sheet is further provided with slots 16 which extend as continuations of the score lines 14 from the points of intersection of score lines 14 and 15 to the edges of the side walls 13. The score lines 15 are extended from the points of intersection to the edges of the end walls 12, such extensions being designated as 17. It will be seen that the slots 16 and the extensions 17 define hinge flaps 1S of the end walls 12, such flaps being designed to be folded against the side walls 13 when the box is set up, as hereinafter described. Medianly of each side and end wall is a triangular notch 19 which cooperates with a slot in the ends of the partitions to secure the partitions firmly to the side and end walls. It should be noted that this cut at 19 is not the usual slot into which the partitions merely sit to prevent side motion.

The blank 10, as are the blanks for the partitions and cover, are provided with knockouts 20 which may be removed to furnish Ventilation as required. It is usual practice in the industry to increase the number of openings for warmer weather and to decrease the same during colder periods. The number of openings are likewise varied according to the number of chicks being shipped.

The interior of the box is divided into compartments, four in the box shown in the drawings, by means of vertical partitions 21 and 22 set at right angles to each other. Such partitions, as illustrated herein, are made of double thickness corrugated board with the corrugations extending vertically to furnish additional strength when the boxes are stacked. It will be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that they are subtantially the same except for the position of the center slot and the variation in length occasioned by the rectangular box. Partition 21 has the median slot 23 extending downwardly from the top whereas partition 22 has the slot 24 extending upwardly from the bottom so that the two partitions may be intertted in the usual manner. Both partitions are likewise provided wih slots 25 near the ends of the partitions, which slots define end portions 26. These end portions are adapted to extend outwardly beyond the walls of the box and insure proper spacing between boxes.

The upper edge of each partition is formed with two upstanding elements 27 which are designed and positioned to come up through corresponding slots in the cover. Each element 27 is furnished with a perforated cut score 28 made to a depth sufficiently to sever the corrugated board up to the last liner, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. It will be noted from Figure 3A that the cut does not go through the opposite side of the partition so that the last liner acts as a hinge for the top half. By

using a perforated cut score the element 27 remains intact and in the vertical position shown in Figure 9, thus permitting the cover with its corresponding slots to be easily slipped over such elements; Itis then a simple matter for the shipper to break the perforated cut score and fold the upper half of the element 27 back against the lower half as shown in Figure 10. Element 27 is further provided with a locking. tab 29, which lits into a cut out in the cover of the box when the element 27 is folded back on itself. Wherev shipping conditions are such that it is not necessary to lock theY cover in place, as in the case of some short trips, the upper halves of the elements 27 and the locking tabs 29 may be removed by cutting off the elements along the lines on which the perforated cut scores 28 are made. Furthermore, where other means are to be employed for holding the elements 27 in folded position, the locking tabs 29 may be omitted.

The blank 30 for the cover, shown in Figure 4, ernbodies a iiat portion 31 and end and side flanges 32 and 33, all hingedly connected to the fiat portion by the score lines 34 and 35. The slots 36 at each corner permit the ianges toV be fitted over the box body and projecting end portions 26 at each side of the box. These flanges are then secured at each corner of the cover by staples 37 (Figure 6) or other appropriate means.

The cover 30V has longitudinal and transverse slots 38, which are of a length and width to accommodate the upstanding elements 27 of the partitions. Each slotv 38 has an H-shaped cut 39 located medianly of the slot, the crosspiece ofthe H being die cut to provide a cut out portion 40 which extends beyond each side of the slot. This cut out portion is of such a length and width and so located that, when the upstanding element 27 passes through the slot and is folded back upon itself, the locking tab 29 will be received into the cut out portion 40 on either side of the slot.. By extending this cut out portion to both. sides of the slot, it permits the partitions to be faced in either direction when assembling the box. The material adjacent this cut out portion 40 and between the long cuts of the H serves as a spring, which gives sufliciently and moves out of position as the locking tab is being pushed into the cut out, and then snapsback into its original position in the plane of the cover when the tab reaches the cut out. Since the tabs 29 and the folded over elements 27 are thus locked in place, the cover, which is held down by the top edges of the elementsV 27, is firmly locked onthe box.

In assembling the parts of the box, the main body blank is first folded along the score lines 14 to bring the ends 12 into vertical position. The partition 21 is then secured in place by interfitting the slots with the notches 19 and pressing the partition rmly downward until it meets the bottom of the box. Similarly the side walls 13 are raised and the partition 22 is inserted, the center slots 23 and 24 interiitting. It should be noted that the partitions are tightly held to the walls by a wedging action which permits the box loaded with chicks to be picked up merely by grasping the partitions. This obviates the necessity of using staples or other fastening means for securing the partitions to the walls and greatly simpliiies the assembling of the box by the shipper. In addition the mere insertion of the partitions as described locks the box into a normal position. It is then only necessary for the shipper to apply one stitch 41 (Figure 5) at each corner of the box to hold the iiaps 18 in place against the side walls 13. There is noV additional labor involved and the box is ready to receive the chicks.

When the box has been loaded the cover is put in place with the upstanding elements 27 of the partitions registering with and coming up through the slots 38 in the cover. Then by a mere hand operation each perforated cut score 28 is broken, each element is foldedback upon itself, and each tab 29 is pressed into the appropriate cut out portion 40 adjacent the element. Thus the cover is tightly and simply locked in place.

These upstanding elements 27 have a further purpose. When folded into place, they serve to space and support a second box stacked on the first. By constructing the partitions of double thickness corrugated board, it is possible to stack a plurality of boxes without danger of collapse and injury to the chicks. Furthermore the spacing provides adequate and etiicient ventilation throughout the stack.

The iiaps at the corners of the cover are stitched to hold the iianges down against the projecting portions 26 on each side of the box (Figures 6 and 8). This construction gives the shipper additional strength and ventilation for the chicks when boxes or stacks of boxes are packed side by side.

Figures l1 and l2 show blanks 42 and 43 from which a modified box and cover may be constructed. Instead of the upstanding elements 27 being made a part of the partitions as shown in Figures 2 and 3, they are formed as parts of the walls. Correspondingly the longitudinal and transverse slots 38 of the cover are positioned along the score lines 34 and 3S so that they will accommodate the upstanding elements when the walls are in vertical position. In this construction the perforated cut scores 28 are preferably made so that the upper halves of the elements will fold inwardly and downwardly. The cuts 39 and the cut out portions 40 are then likewise on the inner side of the slots 38. Since there is no necessity for additional upstanding elements on the partitions, such partitions can be cut off so that they will be the same height as the walls throughout their entire length.

As illustrated in Figures 1l and 12, the elements on the walls and the cover slots are placed medianly of each wall, in which case the walls can not be notched for interfitting with the partitions as described above. The partitions can then be secured at their ends to the box walls by stitching or some other customary manner.

Where the walls are to be notched for interfitting with the partitions, the blanks 44 and 45 shown in Figures 13 and 14 can be employed. A pair of upstanding elements 27 are formed on each wall and corresponding slots are provided on each edge of the cover. In all other respects the elements, tabs, cut out portions and the manner of locking are the same as heretofore described. Again, as in the case of the box formed from blanks 42 and 43, the partitions are without upstanding elements.

Thus it will be seen that the herein disclosed invention provides a new and useful box particularly adapted for the shipment of live chicks, which is fabricated from corrugated board, which includes means for securely aixing the partitions to the box body, which has a simplified locking arrangement for holding the cover on the box, which insures adequate and eiiicient ventilation on all sides and the top when a plurality of boxes are stacked, which provides increased protection for the chicks, and which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical in manufacture. Although designated as a chick box it will be understood that it may be used for other purposes.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product and' different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shipping box comprising a box body; a cover having slots and locking means, said means comprising a cut out portion adjacent a slot and a spring flap defined by said cut out portion and slits extending transversely of the slot with their ends in spaced relation; upstanding elements of corrugated board connected to the box body which elements project through the cover slots, said elements each being cut-scored to the last liner of the corrugated board to provide a hinge on which the element is folded back upon itself toward the cut out portion, whereby the top end edges of the element butt against the cover; and tabs on said elements which fit into the cut out portions of the cover as the aps are depressed and lock the elements in folded position as the aps return to position.

2. A shipping box comprising a box body; a cover having slots and locking means, said means comprising a cut out portion adjacent a slot and a spring ap defined by said cut out portion and slits extending transversely of the slot with their ends in spaced relation; partitions of corrugated board secured to the box body and having upstanding elements which project through the cover slots, said elements each being cut-scored to the last liner of the corrugated board to provide a hinge on which the element is folded back upon itself toward the cut out portion, whereby the top end edges of the element butt against the cover and the edges along the cut-scored line provide a double thickness support for other boxes to be piled on the box; and tabs on said elements which fit into the cut out portions of the cover as the aps are depressed and lock the elements in folded position as the aps return to position.

3. A shipping box comprising a box body; a cover; upstanding elements of corrugated board connected to the box body; slots in the cover of a width approximately equal to the thickness of the upstanding elements; locking means in the cover, said means comprising a cut out portion adjacent a slot and a spring flap defined by said cut out portion and slits extending transversely of the slot with'their ends in spaced relation; said upstanding elments projecting through the cover slots and each being cut-scored to the last liner of the corrugated board to provide a hinge on which the element is folded back upon itself toward the cut out portion, whereby the top end edges of the elements butt against the cover; and tabs on said elements which tit into the cut out portions of the cover as the flaps are depressed and lock the elements in folded position as the flaps return to position.

4. A shipping box comprising a box body; a cover; partitions of corrugated board secured to the box body and having the corrugations running vertically; upstanding elements on the partitions; slots in the cover of a width approximately equal to the thickness of the upstanding elements; locking means in the cover, said means cornprising a cut out portion adjacent a slot and a spring flap defined by said cut out portion and slits extending transversely of the slot with their ends in spaced relation; said upstanding elements projecting through the cover slots and each being cut-scored to the last liner of the corrugated board to provide a hinge on which the element is folded back upon itself toward the cut out portion, whereby the top end edges of the element butt against the cover and the edges along the cut-scored line provide a double thickness support for other boxes to be piled on the box; and tabs on said elements which iit into the cut out portions of the cover as the flaps are depressed and lock the elements in folded position as the flaps return to position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,781,279 Gorsuch Nov. 11, 1930 2,083,623 Thorup June 15, 1937 2,312,846 Olvey Mar. 2, 1943 2,417,008 Miller Mar. 4, 1947 2,450,801 Huze Oct. 5, 1948 2,489,034 James Nov. 22, 1949 2,511,550 Simms June 13, 1950 2,527,221 Huze Oct. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,136 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1937 

